In December, "American Idol" Season 7 runner up David Archuleta announced his plans to go on a two-year Mormon mission . Three months later, the time has come for him to begin his new chapter as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before heading out, 21-year-old Archuleta made sure to leave his fans a farewell video blog, titled "It's Not Goodbye" on his YouTube account. "This will be the last one that I make just from home and being able to be free, not as a missionary, and stuff," he says.

In December, "American Idol" Season 7 runner up David Archuleta announced his plans to go on a two-year Mormon mission . Three months later, the time has come for him to begin his new chapter as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before heading out, 21-year-old Archuleta made sure to leave his fans a farewell video blog, titled "It's Not Goodbye" on his YouTube account. "This will be the last one that I make just from home and being able to be free, not as a missionary, and stuff," he says.

The front-runners delivered Tuesday night on America's two most popular TV series. Olympic gold-medal skater Kristi Yamaguchi collected that ugly trophy as winner of Dancing With the Stars. Judges declared David Archuleta the likely winner when American Idol reveals its champion tonight. Did viewers agree when they cast votes? Yamaguchi was the first female celebrity to win the dance contest since actress Kelly Monaco in the first season. "I love it. I guess K is a good initial to have," Yamaguchi said.

It's the day after Thanksgiving, time again to warm-up the leftovers and consider the bounty of this year's crop of holiday CDs. Fortunately, I have my copy of Mambo Santa Mambo, my favorite holiday album of all-time, close at hand, in the event that new offerings from David Archuleta, REO Speedwagon and Kathy Griffin turn me Grinchy. As is the custom, releases will be awarded with candy canes or lumps of coal. And away we go: Bob Dylan, Christmas In the Heart (Columbia)

On Oct. 13, an American idol and an "American Idol" released Christmas albums on the same day. America voted with its wallets, and the idol (lowercase) emerged the early winner. Bob Dylan's "Christmas in the Heart" edged David Archuleta's "Christmas From the Heart" in first-week sales, New York magazine reports. But Archuleta, the baby-faced balladeer who became a household name on Fox's "American Idol," can share in the holiday cheer: His album only sold about 1,000 fewer copies. 17,350 Bob Dylan "Christmas in the Heart" 16,254 David Archuleta "Christmas From the Heart" SOURCE: Hitsdailydouble.

The two Davids. It's the finale that many American Idol fans have expected for weeks. Pop singer David Archuleta takes on rocker David Cook at 8 p.m. Tuesday. The winner is revealed in a two-hour extravaganza at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Television critic Hal Boedeker assesses the race. His verdict: too close to call. SINGER DAVID ARCHULETA DAVID COOK BACK STORY DAVID ARCHULETA He is a piano-playing 17-year-old from Murray, Utah. He was a winner on Star Search. A high-school junior, he is the only Top 12 contestant with schoolwork.

America's two most popular series wrap up their seasons this week, and they're headed to sharply different finales. ABC's Dancing With the Stars has lacked suspense this season because Kristi Yamaguchi was the favorite from the start. She has bolstered that status with polished performances. But to collect the show's ugly trophy, she must get past Jason Taylor and Cristian de la Fuente. Fox's American Idol has reached a long-predicted finale: pop singer David Archuleta vs. rocker David Cook.

Fandango.com says the movie Twilight is selling advance tickets faster than High School Musical 3 -- and we all know what HSM3 did and continues to do. Might Summit have its first blockbuster? The swoony teen vampire romance opens Nov. 21, and more than 100 showings have sold out nationwide already "from Sacramento to Gainesville." (Make your own Gator vampire joke here, please.) So is Robert Pattinson's the face (above) that launches a thousand sunscreen commercials and a million girlish dreams?

Backstage meddling has caught up with American Idol favorite David Archuleta's dad, who has been banned from rehearsals, a person working for the TV talent contest said. Jeff Archuleta was told last week by producers that he can no longer join his 17-year-old son David as he prepares for the show, the person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The show's action was first reported by the online Web site TMZ. David Archuleta of Murray, Utah, is one of three contestants left as the top-rated Fox show heads toward the May 20-21 finale.

On Oct. 13, an American idol and an "American Idol" released Christmas albums on the same day. America voted with its wallets, and the idol (lowercase) emerged the early winner. Bob Dylan's "Christmas in the Heart" edged David Archuleta's "Christmas From the Heart" in first-week sales, New York magazine reports. But Archuleta, the baby-faced balladeer who became a household name on Fox's "American Idol," can share in the holiday cheer: His album only sold about 1,000 fewer copies. 17,350 Bob Dylan "Christmas in the Heart" 16,254 David Archuleta "Christmas From the Heart" SOURCE: Hitsdailydouble.

Chris Rushton, 18, of Chicago wore a headdress. Jake Leavitt, 19, of Boca Raton stood alone, his shirt open, and sang "Let It Be." Miquette Jackson, 28, of DeBary held a sign that read "I Lost 120 lbs. for American Idol." Idol hopefuls took different routes Thursday to stand out in Orlando as nearly 10,000 of them descended on Amway Arena. "I really expected 5-6,000 tops," supervising producer Patrick Lynn said. "It's a huge crowd. . . . I think more people are just turning out because they see their chance.

Does American Idol seem lacking so far without the two Davids this season? You can catch up with David Archuleta when he makes his acting debut -- playing himself -- on tonight's episode of iCarly. Carly (Miranda Cosgrove) is an Archuleta fan in the episode. Cosgrove and Archuleta also host the Nickelodeon "Crush Night" lineup from 8 to 9:30 tonight. Archuleta also will sing "Crush." Archuleta, who is 18, talked to Nickelodeon about his acting debut. "I was nervous and thought I'd be awful, but it felt really comfortable and came pretty easily since I was allowed to play myself," he said.

Fandango.com says the movie Twilight is selling advance tickets faster than High School Musical 3 -- and we all know what HSM3 did and continues to do. Might Summit have its first blockbuster? The swoony teen vampire romance opens Nov. 21, and more than 100 showings have sold out nationwide already "from Sacramento to Gainesville." (Make your own Gator vampire joke here, please.) So is Robert Pattinson's the face (above) that launches a thousand sunscreen commercials and a million girlish dreams?

The front-runners delivered Tuesday night on America's two most popular TV series. Olympic gold-medal skater Kristi Yamaguchi collected that ugly trophy as winner of Dancing With the Stars. Judges declared David Archuleta the likely winner when American Idol reveals its champion tonight. Did viewers agree when they cast votes? Yamaguchi was the first female celebrity to win the dance contest since actress Kelly Monaco in the first season. "I love it. I guess K is a good initial to have," Yamaguchi said.

It's the day after Thanksgiving, time again to warm-up the leftovers and consider the bounty of this year's crop of holiday CDs. Fortunately, I have my copy of Mambo Santa Mambo, my favorite holiday album of all-time, close at hand, in the event that new offerings from David Archuleta, REO Speedwagon and Kathy Griffin turn me Grinchy. As is the custom, releases will be awarded with candy canes or lumps of coal. And away we go: Bob Dylan, Christmas In the Heart (Columbia)

Does American Idol seem lacking so far without the two Davids this season? You can catch up with David Archuleta when he makes his acting debut -- playing himself -- on tonight's episode of iCarly. Carly (Miranda Cosgrove) is an Archuleta fan in the episode. Cosgrove and Archuleta also host the Nickelodeon "Crush Night" lineup from 8 to 9:30 tonight. Archuleta also will sing "Crush." Archuleta, who is 18, talked to Nickelodeon about his acting debut. "I was nervous and thought I'd be awful, but it felt really comfortable and came pretty easily since I was allowed to play myself," he said.

America's two most popular series wrap up their seasons this week, and they're headed to sharply different finales. ABC's Dancing With the Stars has lacked suspense this season because Kristi Yamaguchi was the favorite from the start. She has bolstered that status with polished performances. But to collect the show's ugly trophy, she must get past Jason Taylor and Cristian de la Fuente. Fox's American Idol has reached a long-predicted finale: pop singer David Archuleta vs. rocker David Cook.

The two Davids. It's the finale that many American Idol fans have expected for weeks. Pop singer David Archuleta takes on rocker David Cook at 8 p.m. Tuesday. The winner is revealed in a two-hour extravaganza at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Television critic Hal Boedeker assesses the race. His verdict: too close to call. SINGER DAVID ARCHULETA DAVID COOK BACK STORY DAVID ARCHULETA He is a piano-playing 17-year-old from Murray, Utah. He was a winner on Star Search. A high-school junior, he is the only Top 12 contestant with schoolwork.